Ar-Pharazôn in his pride brought a mighty fleet to Middle-earth to challenge Sauron for dominion of the land. Sauron pretended to humble himself before the King and was taken as captive to Númenor. Soon Sauron had fully corrupted the King and persuaded him to assail Valinor itself. The Valar called upon the One, who cast Númenor into the sea. It is said that Tar-Míriel strove to reach the peak of the Meneltarma before the inundation of the island, but the great wave swept her away from the steep side of the Holy Mountain.[2]

Tar-Míriel, a Quenya name, had an approximate meaning of "Jewel-daughter". The Adûnaic name Ar-Pharazôn gave her, Ar-Zimraphel is presumably a translation of this. Zimra- means, disputably, 'jewel', while -phel is possibly 'daughter'.

In one version of the Akallabêth, Míriel was betrothed to Elentir, the brother of Amandil (the last Lord of Andúnië). However, she fell desperately in love with Pharazôn and chose to marry him when he took up the Sceptre of Númenor. This story is very different than the tale in the published The Silmarillion, where Ar-Pharazôn takes Míriel very much against her will in order to claim the Sceptre.[3]